DRDO has designed and developed five different launchers for the PJ-10 supersonic antiship cruise missile, BrahMos. The launches have been installed and successfully used in seven flight trials of the missile.

Mobile Autonomous Launcher

A unique state-of-the-art mobile autonomous launcher (MAL) has been developed for the BrahMos shorebased ground complex. The MAL is the first indigenously developed single vehicle weapon system that comprises command control and communication systems.The MAL is built on an advanced all terrain high mobility 12 x 12 TATRA vehicle with electronically controlled engine and transmission systems. It carries three canisterised missiles inside three independent containers. Containers provide necessary supports to the missile canisters; ensure thermal conditioning of the canisters and interface with the launch beam. The ground-resting units (GRU) are assembled together with the canisters to facilitate transfer of launch loads to ground. The containers are carried in horizontal position in transportation

Mobile autonomous launcher for BrahMos

mode. The launch beam is articulated to make the canisters vertical through the operation of a high pressure hydraulic system controlled by an electronic controller. The launcher control system (LCS) functions in coordination with fire control system (FCS) and communication system.The vehicle and the systems are capable of operating in NBC fall out environment as all operations can be automatically carried out from a protected equipment cabin of the MAL. The MAL has a containerised power supply system consisting of 40 kVA diesel generating set and 40 kVA PTO alternator, a 2 x 7.5 kVA single-phase UPS with battery bank for 15 min back up, and a 5 kVA single phase generating set.

Salient Features

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Carries three canisterised BrahMos missiles
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Vertical launch of missiles in single or salvo mode
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Launch readiness in 5 min
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Inbuilt fire control, command control and communication systems
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All operations by high-pressure hydraulics controlled by COTS-based launcher control system
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DRDO has designed, developed and installed two deck-mounted inclined ship launchers having missile canisters at 150 angle on an Indian naval destroyer. The launcher consists of following different components:

Base Structure: The structure forms the interface between the launcher structure and the ship deck structure and is welded to the ship deck in longitudinal direction at an angle of 40 to the horizontal.

Launcher Structure: The launcher structure is a welded lattice structure constructed out of box sections.It has eight support pads bolted permanently to the base structure. This structure has clamping arrangements at three places corresponding to third, fifth and seventh supports of canister. The clamp assemblies are in two halves. Bottom halves are permanently bolted to the launcher structure whereas the top halves are removable. This structure supports two canisters. An optical measuring element has been provided on the structure to measure the alignment of the canister with respect to the ship axes.

Thrust Bearing Structure (TBS): It is welded to the top deck of the ship and base structure with proper alignment. This structure transfers the launching loads to the ship deck.

Bottom Resting Unit (BRU): Comprises two parts, cylindrical shell and dish end. The cylindrical shell comprises the canister with electrical connectors connected to the canister. The dish end is bolted with the cylindrical shell. BRU rests against TBS on the launcher.

Canister Loading Supports: These supports are required during the loading of canister on to the launcher when the sea is having moderate movements. While loading, the canister is first placed on these loading supports. The assembly is then transferred to clamp assembly by lowering the loading supports and moving back until the canister is positioned and the locating pin matches perfectly.

Loading Gear: Loading gear consists of two main units, lifting beam and its accessories, and hydraulic power pack. The lifting beam is designed for tilting of canister in air in any desired angle in the range of 00 to 200 . It handles the canister by holding it at the handling supports. A hydraulic driven screw in the lifting beam is used to tilt the canister to the desired angle with the help of hydraulic power pack. The lifting beam is designed to handle the canister weighing up to 4500 kg including the weight of BRU.